Flexible modular assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible modular assembly (100) comprising at least two flexible electronic modules (110 and 111) supported by a textile support (130). The two flexible electronic modules and the textile support each comprise a set of electrical conductors. The flexible modular assembly further comprises flexible connectors (140) for interconnecting two sets of electrical conductors. The flexible modular assembly of the invention is a modular textile assembly for use in large-area applications of electronic textiles.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a flexible modular assembly, in particular to a flexible modular assembly comprising electronic textiles, and to a method of manufacturing the flexible modular assembly.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]A textile is a material comprised of a network of fibres, that can for instance be manufactured by weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or pressing fibres together. For this purpose, interlocked fibres known as yarns or threads may be used.[0003]Many types of textiles are used in our every day life. When electronic components (i.e. devices that work by controlling the flow of electrons) are integrated into a textile new application fields emerge. When the textile is an integral part of the electrical circuit comprising the electronic components, an electronic textile is obtained.[0004]An example of an electronic component is a LED package in the form of a surface mounted device (SMD-LED), which can be attached to a texti...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]Furthermore, a problem found specifically with woven electronic textiles is that only certain types of electrically conductive yarns can be woven into the electronic textile. These yarns usually have a low conductance, limiting the amount of current that can flow through them. For larger woven systems, this will limit the number of electronic components that can be placed on the textile.

[0014]The textile support can have electrically conductive yarns embroidered, stitched or woven into it with some pattern that allows for the supply of information (data) and / or power to contact points comprised on the individually adhered flexible electronic modules. Since the yarns do not necessarily need to be woven, high conductivity yarns can be used on the textile support, allowing for large electrical currents to be transmitted.

Problems solved by technology

Such an approach, however, has the disadvantage of becoming quickly costly and difficult to pick and place components on.

Since a textile is not a flat and rigid body, it is difficult to mount electronic components onto the textile in a sufficiently accurate way with a pick and place apparatus, especially for textiles with relatively large dimensions, such as, for instance, a textile with dimensions that exceed 0.5×0.5 square meter.

Furthermore, a problem found specifically with woven electronic textiles is that only certain types of electrically conductive yarns can be woven into the electronic textile.

These yarns usually have a low conductance, limiting the amount of current that can flow through them.

For larger woven systems, this will limit the number of electronic components that can be placed on the textile.

However such an assembly is bulky, inflexible, and requires a rack for the PCBs and the bus system to be housed and interconnected in a stable way.

Furthermore, such an assembly is bound to a certain fixed geometry and is either not bendable and is only limited to that a certain number of PCBs can be interconnected.

Additionally, ordinary PCBs are not drapeable.

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